Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SAMPLE BAG CLOSURE DEVICE
The present invention relates to a device for closing and opening a package,
and a
package, preferably for hazardous samples and the like.
From the Swedish patent 8304910-6 there is known a package primarily adapted
for hazardous samples, comprising an inner compartment for receiving hazardous
samples or the like, and an outer compartment enclosing the inner compartment
and adapted for placing therein of a document, such as a packing slip or the
like.
The outer compartment has a slit-like opening adjacent the opening of the
inner
compartment. Both compartments can be closed with one and the same closure
tab, whereby the tab closes the inner compartment in a watertight seal. The
outer
compartment can be opened with the aid of a tear thread, whereby the inner
compartment remains closed.
Packages of this type fulfil their purpose reasonably well but suffer from the
disadvantage of not being cheap enough to manufacture in order to be mass
produced at a low cost. Furthermore there is a certain risk for inadvertent
mix-up,
namely in that the hazardous sample is not placed in the compartment adapted
therefor but instead in the adjacent compartment. Furthermore, previously
there
has been a small but nevertheless existing risk that a sample that is soiled
on its
exterior, when placed in correct compartment will touch the lid tab also on
the part
that is adapted to close the other compartment - the document compartment -
whereby there is a risk of infection at its opening.
In the Swedish patent 9102569-2 is disclosed a package the purpose of which is
to
prevent such risk of infection from the first compartment to the second
compartment in the presence of a possibly leaking sample or sample soiled on
its
exterior, in particular when opening the second compartment. Furthermore there
is
suggested a method of manufacturing a package of this kind which allows cheap
and simple mass production and which reduces the risk of mix-up between the
compartment adapted for the hazardous sample or the like and the second
compartment adapted for accompanying documents.
Because the first and the second tab and thereby the openings of both
compartments are located on opposite sides of the package, the risk of
infection is
efficiently prevented when placing a sample possibly soiled on the exterior,
in the
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first compartment and closing of the compartments, or due to leaking samples,
when opening the second compartment at a later time. According to a further
development the first tab is located outside both compartments of the package.
Thereby this tab and the associated compartment will in a natural way be
perceived
by the user primarily as adapted for placing the hazardous sample therein.
This effect is amplified further if the outer contour of the second tab
substantially
coincides with the adjacent outer contour of the package, and thus will be
perceived
as a closure tab only when the first tab already has been closed, and only the
second tab still is open. This will further prevent the risk that the sample
is placed
in the wrong compartment.
Suitably the tabs are provided with a self-adhesive glue, covered with a
removable
protective layer, the tabs being provided with a slit penetrating through the
tab,
said slit in its turn on its exterior (i.e. the side that is turned outwards
when the
package has been closed) is covered with a strip that can be torn off, for
opening of
the associated compartment. In this way it is achieved in a way known per se
that
the self-adhesive glue only at the correct occasion and not inadvertently will
close
the associated compartment, and at the same time opening of the compartments
at
a later time will be made easier.
It has proven to be suitable that the self-adhesive glue layer on the first
glue tab,
surrounds the entire associated slit, at a distance, whereby the slit or the
glue layer
that surrounds it, needs to be positioned accurately with respect to the
opening of
the compartment, which simplifies production and makes it cheaper, the
compartment at the same time being closed in a liquid proof manner, and
handling
is simplified.
Suitably the self-adhesive layer is positioned on the side of the associated
slit in the
second tab closest to the outer end edge of the tab, preferably at a certain
spacing.
This will also make manufacture cheaper and simpler without rendering the
package more difficult to handle. A the same time an additional advantage is
obtained by minimizing the risk that a document that has not been pushed into
the
second compartment at a long enough distance inadvertently will be glued stuck
when the second tab with the glue layer is fastened over the opening of the
document compartment.
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Suitably the side of the first compartment that is facing outwards, said
compartment being adapted to be closed by the first tab, is made of shock-
absorbing material. In this case it may be suitable that at one side of the
second
compartment, which can be closed by the second tab, also comprises or consists
of
shock-absorbing material. Alternatively the side facing inwards of the first
compartment, said compartment being adapted to be closed by the first tab,
comprises or consists of shock-absorbing material.
According to one embodiment a liquid-absorbing member is provided in the first
compartment which is adapted to be closed by the first tab. Said absorbing
member
suitably has the shape of the sheet and is placed between the shock-absorbing
layers and is fastened along one of its short sides against the inner side of
the outer
layer, which is possibly made of shock-absorbing material, near the opening of
the
document compartment such that it is impossible to position the sample between
the absorbent and the outer layer. The absorbent is suitably selected to be
opaque,
such that it will not be possible to read text that has been applied to the
sample.
The liquid absorbing layer furthermore has different appearances in dry and
wet or
moist conditions respectively, whereby the outside of the first compartment
suitably
is transparent, translucent or opaque in order that it is possible to view the
appearance of the liquid absorbing layer from the outside and to note changes
in
the case of leaking samples.
The inwards and/or outwards facing side of the second compartment, which can
be
closed by the second tab, can be made of a non-transparent material. The
purpose
of this is that unauthorised persons must not be able to read or in any other
optical
way perceive messages, documents or the like that has been positioned inside
the
second pocket without opening the package. If a package according to the
invention
and embodiments thereof once has been opened this will be perceivable from the
outside.
With the method one obtains the advantage that the package can be mass
produced
in a cheap and simple way with an efficient utilization of machine time and
with
high accessibility. Thereby certain large tolerances can be applied regarding
material and positioning, and exactness is only required in certain final
operations,
which simplifies manufacture and makes it cheaper and yields a price worthy
product. The process can be performed continuously and efficiently by
preferably
unwinding the paper web and the shock-absorbing materials from rolls, and the
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longitudinal sides thereof are adjusted to be positioned edge to edge, which
is a
fairly simple operation, and also i. a. that the rolling width of the first
shock-
absorbing material web is selected to be about one tab width narrower than the
rolling width of the paper web, but wider than the rolling width of the second
shock-absorbing material web.
Suitably a liquid absorbing material is also selected to be provided in the
form of
rolls with a lesser width than the width of the package, it is cut
transversally to be
somewhat shorter than the shortest width of the shock-absorbing material, such
that also this material can be supplied continuously, whereby the liquid
absorbing
sheets after being cut, preferably are fastened with or adjacent one of the
cut edges,
either directly at or adjacent to the nearest edge of the second shock-
absorbing
material.
Also the tear strips can be supplied from rolls and provided with glue when
attaching them over the slits, except for the tear strip edges, whereby
gripping tabs
are provided at the ends for easy removing by tearing of the tear strips.
Suitably a non-transparent paper is selected, preferably kraft paper, kraft
liner or
the like, which both yields strength and protection from viewing of the
document or
referral compartment. This paper web suitably is provided with print regarding
instructions for opening, tab and compartment references, preprint of postal
address and/or current information with round of the pattern corresponding to
the
length or width of the package.
As a shock-absorbing material suitably two plastic foils that are welded
together
and having enclosed there between gas or air cushions is used. Alternatively
two
plastic foils can be used as a shock-absorbing material, whereby a third
plastic foil
is provided there between and thereby forming the air cushions. The plastic
foils in
the layers that are to be welded together with the liquid absorbing material
are
suitably selected to be translucent. The shock-absorbing material located
between
the paper web and the liquid absorbing material need not consist of
translucent
material but can of course do so. One reason to select translucent plastic
foils is
that they commonly are the cheapest and are available as standard merchandise,
which makes manufacture cheaper and thereby the end product cheaper.
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A disadvantage package patcntcd in SE-9 102569-2 is that is sometiines can be
diffieult to open the compartment in an optimal way. Purther drawbacks with
this
package is that it can happen thac the liquid sample that leaks out of its
package,
5 can penetrate through the slit that has been provided in the kraft liner
that the
package has been inade from. The liquid sealing PE-layer has been cut through,
and trials have shown that there is a risk that liquids penetrate out through
the
closure, albeit after relatively long time, i.e. some or few days. However,
this can in
certain cases be unacceptable.
The present invention therefore seeks to improve the opening function in a
package
of the type disclosed in SE-9102569-2.
According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a package,
comprising:
a first compartment, which can be closed by a first tab; and
a second compartment which can be closed with a second tab;
whereby the first and second tabs are provided with one layer each of self-
adhesive glue covered
by a removable protective layer of foil material, applied over the glue,
wherein the first and the second tabs as well as an opening of the first
compartment and an
opening of the second compartment are located at opposite edges of the
package, and wherein a
side of the first compartment which can be closed by the first tab, said side
facing outwards,
comprises a shock-absorbing material, and further comprising
at least one tear strip, arranged on at least one of the first and second
tabs, wherein the at least one
tear strip is coated with an adhesive compound and is provided with a release
layer of silicone on a
side thereof that faces the material of the package in a closed condition of
the package.
Thereby the through slit used in the known package has been eliminated, and
the
lear strip has been provided on the inside of the tab instead of on the
outside
thereof, In a preferred embodiment the tear strip, on its outside, i.e. the
side that is
not fastened against the tab, is provided with a layer of silicone. Thereby
the glue
layer that is applied on the tab, and which is to achieve that the tab does
not stick
at closing, will not adhere appreciably to the tab over the better part
thereof.
Neither will the tear strip be able to participate in welding for the case
where the
tear strip is present between two PE-Iayers that are to be joined, i.e. at an
edge weld
of a package. Thereby a channel or "tunnel" is formed to be in the siliconized
stirface of the tear strip and the glue layer, or between the siliconized
surface of the
tear strip and PE-layer in the side weld. When the tab is glued against the
package
at the time of closing, the tear strip will therefore adhere poorer against
that part of.
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the package against which said glue layer is applied on closing, which makes
it very
easy to tear the strip through the paper tab, and in this way achieve opening.
Kowever, the closure device has a general applicability, and the illustrated
use with
the previously known bag package is only one possibility.
I3y the new inverition there is provided a device that enables liquid tight
transportation of hazardous samples, and which is tamper proof, i.e. that non-
authorized access of the interior of the package cannot happen without it
being
discovered. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference
to an
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embodiment of a package of the type referred to above, having a closure and
opening means according to the invention.
Fig. 1 shows a cross section through a package having a closure and
opening means according to the invention;
Fig. 2 shows a view from above one end of the package having the
protruding tab.
As can be seen of the schematic cross section view according to fig. 1 the
illustrated
embodiment of the package consists of a first compartment P, adapted for the
sample in question, and which is closable with a first tab H2, and a second
compartment M, adapted as a document or admission note compartment which is
closable with the second tab H 1. As clearly can be seen in fig. 1 the first
tab H2 and
the second tab H 1 as well as the opening of the first compartment P and the
opening of the second compartment M are located on opposite sides of the
package.
In the first compartment P which is closable with the first tab H2, there is
provided
a liquid absorber A, which at its right end edge (viewed in the figure) is
fastened
quite close to the opening of the compartment P. A sample R positioned in the
compartment P is thus not visible, and due to the non-transparency of the
absorber
A it is not possible to read what may be written on the sample either.
Furthermore, as is evident from figures 1 and 2 the tab H2, which is adapted
for
closing the sample compartment P in its unclosed condition, is positioned
outside
both compartments of the package. The tab H 1 of the admission note or
document
compartment, however, has an outer contour which substantially coincide with
the
adjacent outer contour of the package. Both tabs H1 and H2 are provided with
one
layer each of self-adhesive glue L1 and L2, covered with one releasable
protective
layer F1, F2 each, these also being referred to as release layers. These
protective
layers preferably consist of silicone treated foil material, e.g. silicone
treated paper.
The upper restricting wall B of the sample compartment P in fig. 1 e.g.
comprises a
double layer bubble foil made of polyethylene, having dimensions 250 x 200 mm
(roll width 200 mm). The absorption layer that is attached at a thereby can
have
dimensions 230 x 270 mm (roll width 270 mm). The absorber is attached along
one
or both of its short edges against the double layer bubble foil. It is of
importance
that the absorber in its left end (as viewed in fig. 1) does not extend too
close to the
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left end of the layer B, such that there will be room for welding together of
layer B
with the layer C which is located there underneath, said layer C e.g. can be
comprised of a three layer bubble foil of polyethylene, possibly having the
dimensions 270 x 200 mm (roll width 270 mm). Beneath these both layers there
is
a layer D of polyethylene coated kraft liner, in the present case having the
dimension 320 x 200 mm (roll width 320 mm).
The shock-absorbing layer C has been welded together with the kraft liner D in
the
weld c 1 quite adjacent the opening edge of the sample compartment P. In
addition
to layers C and D are also welded together by means of the longitudinally
running
welds di and d2.
The shock-absorbing layer B should be transparent in order to enable the
observation of changes in the appearance of the liquid absorbing material A in
the
case of a leaking sample. The second shock-absorbing layer C can but does not
necessarily need to be transparent, translucent or opaque. The layer D which
is
provided with the tabs should normally not be translucent or transparent, in
any
case if one wishes that the content of the document pocket M should not be
possible to read from the outside. The material for the layer D is selected
among
known materials having regard to the properties one wishes that the layer D
should
have. For example the layer D could be shock-absorbing and the layer C could
be
non-shock-absorbing.
Practical trials with prototypes have shown that it is very easy to close both
compartments of the package and also to open them separately.
In accordance with the invention each tab, H 1, H2 is provided on the inside,
i.e. the
side that lies close to the bag when it has been closed, are provided with a
self-
adhesive tear strip (or tear tape) Gi, G2 running in the transverse direction,
transversely over respective tab. This tear tape thus is applied on the PE-
layer K of
the kraft liner D, such that it attaches against the PE-layer with its glue.
The tear
tape Gi, G2 is a self-adhesive tape, e.g. consisting of a polypropylene
carrier coated
with an adhesive compound L3, L4 and provided with a release layer of
silicone.
Alternatively it can be a self-adhesive tear tape having a mono-axially
polypropylene
coated with polyethylene and adhesive compound, and provided with a release
layer
of silicone. These tapes can be obtained from Beiersdorf, Germany under the
trade
names Tesa 4235 and Tesa 51235 respectively.
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After the tear tape has been attached to the PE-layer according to the above
disclosure, a glue layer is applied on an area around and over the strip,
thereby
forming a closure means, such as a tab, that can be folded over an opening and
thereby close the package. This glue layer Li, L2 will due to the siliconized
surface
of the tear strip not adhere against the tear tape to any particular degree.
However
the adhesion is enough to achieve that the strip is held in place. The release
paper
or protective foil F1, F2 is applied over the glue layer Li, L2 and over the
tear strip.
Due to the lesser degree of adhesion between tear strip and glue layer Li, L2,
there
is formed a "tunnel" between the tab and the tear strip. This "tunnel" does
not have
any proper volume, but is rather to be looked upon as an area where the two
materials have a capability of being easily separated.
This can be most clearly seen if one touches the glue layer with a finger
where the
layer in question lies over the tear strip. Since the glue is a very strongly
tacky glue,
it will immediately stick to the finger. If it then is attempted to remove the
finger
therefrom, the glue will be lifted from the tear strip and form a blister
because it is
tough and does not adhere against the tear strip. When the tab has been
attached
to the package material at the time of closing, this effect will facilitate
tearing of the
strip through the tab. The tear strip simply releases easier from the package
material against which the tab has been glued on closing the package. Possibly
it
can be required to apply slightly more silicone than what is present on the
commercially available tape in order to achieve optimal function.
The tear tape strip Gi on the smaller of the tabs Hi is provided such that it
will be
located within the region where the bag is edgewelded in its longitudinal
direction.
However it will not participate in the weld because of the silicone layer.
Thereby an
advantage is achieved the same way as with the other tab, in that it becomes
easier
to separate the layers and thereby get a grip of the end of the tape in order
to tear it
through the paper of the closure tab Hi.
It is also possible to use a glue of the same type as for the glue layers Li,
L2 instead
of welding the side edges of the package together. Thereby one achieves the
same
effect as with the first embodiment disclosed above, where the tear strip is
located
on a closure tab, and is covered by a glue layer that does not adhere against
the
silicone to any significant degree.
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In order to improve function further it is possible according to the invention
to
provide edge cuttings Eil, E12 at the strip Gi, and E21, E22 at the strip G2.
These
edge cuttings are made on either side of the ends of the tapes, and a small
distance
into the edge area of the bag. Thereby gripping tabs GF are formed, making it
easier
to get a grip on the tear strip thereby making it easy to open the package.
This is
most clearly evident from figure 2. Such edge cuttings are suitably made by
two
parallel knives or industrial blades provided in the manufacturing line.
Another way
of achieving the edge cutting is by punching. Punching can be preferable in
that it
is possible to shape the gripping tabs according to desire, e.g. by making
cuttings
wider, and the gripping tabs can be given a rounded shape in order to make
them
grip friendlier. A skilled man will easily realise how such an operation is
implemented in a plant.
